Women’s Leadership

WEDO works to ensure women are empowered as decision-makers and leaders, especially in environmental and sustainable development arenas.

Across sectors and movements, WEDO has witnessed firsthand the power of women’s organizing and leadership for change – particularly in protecting and promoting a healthy, peaceful planet. Empowering women as leaders – from the personal and local to the highest decision-making levels – to advance gender equality and protect and promote a sustainable planet is a critical part of WEDO’s work.

WEDO joins in partnership with women’s organizations, networks, grassroots groups and activists, UN bodies and IGOs, government Ministries, parliamentarians, congresswomen and men, Heads of State and global thought leaders including academics and Nobel Laureates to promote women’s leadership. Across civil society, WEDO champions the vitality, diversity and influence of women’s organizing and movements – irreplaceable momentum toward justice and equality. And because WEDO’s goal is gender equality, WEDO proudly collaborates with men – some steadfast allies already and some seeking support to be able to become gender equality champions – toward the betterment of society as a whole.

Project in focus:
Since 2009, WEDO has been facilitating a special project at UNFCCC negotiations, the Women Delegates Fund (WDF). A project of the Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA), with support from the Government of Finland, the WDF began as a travel fund to support women from the global South to be part of their national delegations to climate change negotiations. Responding to the delegates’ requests for more in-depth skills building and networking opportunities, WEDO has grown the WDF into a multi-dimensional capacity building program, with training components on thematic issues such as finance and adaptation, negotiating techniques, and media and communications. The WDF has contributed to an increase in women’s representation at the UNFCCC – the highest it has ever been, at 34% – and the substantive shift in understanding and integration of gender equality issues in climate change policy-making. Recently, the Government of Iceland had provided additional support to further enhance the scope of the program.

For more information on the WDF and WEDO’s other work to promote women’s leadership, contact bridget[at]wedo.org.

The Latest Women’s Leadership News

LIMA, PERU (December 1, 2014)– Now in its sixth year, at COP20, WEDO on behalf of the Women Delegates Fund (WDF) hosted a two day training for women delegates, commonly known as the WDF ‘Night School’ as it is held in the evenings after the delegates’ preparatory meetings. Over 17 delegates from across 12 countries joined this workshop, which provided background to the UNFCCC process, rules of procedures and associated techniques to navigate and analyze

NEW YORK (December 1, 2014)– WEDO is pleased to announce its new report – titled “Ensuring Women’s Access and Influence on Climate Change Policy” – highlighting the Women Delegates Fund (WDF) program, which works to enhance women’s participation and leadership in climate negotiations.

NEW YORK (October 15, 2014)– As the UNFCCC works towards a new climate agreement at COP21 in Paris next year, WEDO is working alongside many countries championing gender equality as a key element of the new agreement. In addition, Parties and key stakeholders from the Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA) and the Women and Gender Constituency continue to build the foundation for advancing the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of current gender mandates in …

NEW YORK (September 23, 2014)– Hundreds of women and men, friends and family, feminists, activists, and allies, including long-time gender equality champion, former President of Finland, Her Excellency Tarja Halonen, marched together at Sunday’s People’s Climate March in New York City to proclaim that there can be “no climate justice without gender justice”. This sentiment acknowledges that women, particularly in the Global South, have contributed the least to global warming and degradation of …

The diverse, vibrant and energetic community of women activists in the US and around the world are helping to lead the way on climate justice. This Sunday, you can march in solidarity with all women on the frontlines of climate disruption http://www.climatewomen.squarespace.com/Read the ‘Women for Climate Justice’ Contingent’s Call to March!

Where are women and feminist activists assembling?
The ‘Women for Climate Justice’ contingent will be meeting at 68th Street and Central Park West …